Author: Press Room

With a record 99 Grammy nominations and acclaim as one of the most influential artists in music history, pop superstar Beyoncé and her expansive cultural legacy will be the subject of a new course at Yale University next year.Titled “Beyoncé Makes History: Black Radical Tradition, Culture, Theory and Politics Through Music”, the one-credit class will focus on the period from her 2013 self-titled album through this year’s genre-defying Cowboy Carter and how the world-famous singer, songwriter and entrepreneur has generated awareness and engagement in social and political ideologies.Yale University’s African American Studies professor Daphne Brooks intends to use the performer’s…

The Government is making a national apology to New Zealanders who were abused while in state and faith-based care.The apology comes after the release of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care in July, which found almost a third of people in state and faith-based institutions between 1950 and 2019 were abused.Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is delivering the national apology at Parliament.

As the world is facing a second Donald Trump term, German MPs speak with Euronews about the biggest challenges Europe could face and the future of the transatlantic relationship. ADVERTISEMENTGermany, one of the US’s closest allies, has spent months this year preparing for both a second Donald Trump term, as experts warned for months that Germany may need to beef up its European and NATO defence strategy as Trump touts an “America first” approach. Vice-Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the German Parliament and opposition (CSU/CDU) politician Thomas Erndl told Euronews at the Aspen Institute that all eras have…

Emotions have run high as members of state agencies and public sector leaders apologised to New Zealanders who were abused in state and faith-based care. The apology comes after the release of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care in July, which found almost a third of people in state and faith-based institutions between 1950 and 2019 were abused. Apologies were delivered from multiple state agency leaders, with some facing an emotional response from those watching on. Apologies were delivered from multiple state agency leaders, with some facing an emotional response from those watching on. (Source: 1News)Solicitor General…

A former Home and Away star who led Australian police on a three-day manhunt after stomping on a woman’s head in a “disturbing” attack has been spared more jail time.Orpheus Pledger, 31, faced the Victorian County Court earlier today where he successfully appealed the seven-month prison term he originally received in August. He was jailed after pleading guilty in Melbourne Magistrates Court to assaulting a woman on two separate occasions in March. The first time, he kicked and punched the victim in the face after she raised concerns about his drug use and declining mental health. He then attacked her a second…

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has made an historic apology to New Zealanders who were abused while in state and faith-based care. Here is his full speech:Ngā kura mōrehu, kua ngaro, haere atu rā. Ngā kura mōrehu, e whakawhaiti nei. Kei ngā rangatira. Tēnā koutou katoa.Treasured survivors, those that have passed, farewell.Treasured survivors that have gathered here. To the esteemed leaders. Greetings.I’d like to welcome you all here today on what is a significant, sorrowful but important day for you and for all of New Zealand.I would also like to acknowledge those of you who are watching and listening from all…

A body found in the Whanganui River this morning is thought to be that of a man missing since Thursday last week.Police said in a statement that a body was located in the water near the City Bridge. The man went missing at around 2.25pm on November 7.”While formal identification procedures are yet to be completed, it is thought that the body is the man who went missing in the Whanganui River.”Police have notified the family who were present at the scene.A three-day rāhui was in put place for the river from Sparrows Cliff to the river mouth from Thursday…

Pharmac has decided to disestablish its Māori advisory group.In a statement, the chairperson of the drug funding agency Paula Bennett said the board made the decision to disestablish the group in order to put more focus on other partnership arrangements already in place.These include the four Māori health professional bodies, iwi Māori Partnership Boards, and the Hauora Māori Advisory Committee within the Ministry of Health, she said.”Pharmac wants to ensure all New Zealanders have access to the medicines and medical devices they need. Engaging effectively with Māori continues to be a priority for Pharmac, and Pharmac’s Board has been considering…

A rare Adélie penguin that washed up at Petone last month has begun its journey back to Antarctica with the help of police, the Department of Conservation and Wellington Zoo.The penguin had been taken to the Ōrongorongo River east of Wellington on November 1 to a release point but did not go into the ocean.However, Monday’s release on the Cook Strait with the help of the police vessel Elizabeth IV and the Department of Conservation was successful.Wellington Zoo said the penguin dove straight into the sea as soon as the crate holding her was opened.”She immediately started swimming south towards…

A lending company has been ordered to pay $200,000 for breaching consumer credit laws while charging interest rates of up to 182.5% on high-cost loans.It is the Commerce Commission’s first case enforcing rules applying to high-cost lenders.Eagle M.A.N Group Limited was ordered to pay a pecuniary penalty of $200,000 in the Christchurch High Court yesterday “for providing high-cost loans which breached multiple aspects of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act”.Likely breaches occurred across the business’ high-cost loan book in a period from May 2020 to August 2022, according to the Commerce Commission.The agency’s deputy chairperson Anne Callinan said it…